Laughter Really Is Good Pain Management
It's been said that laughter is the best medicine.
All you have to do is watch the movie Patch Adams to see laughter working its magic on patients.
A new study released by an Oxford psychologist shows that laughter is also great medicine for pain management.
The author, psychologist Robin Dunbar, explained that the muscles involved in the physical act of laughing trigger an in increase in endorphin release from the brain.
Dr.
Dunbar's team conducted six studies actually, five in the laboratory, and one as a field study at comedy performances.
Multiple studies involved resistance pain.
One of the conclusions was that laughter triggers endorphin release, and not the other way around.
In the experiments, participants in the lab watched various videos.
Some were funny, such as the comedies "Friends" and "South Park", while others were neutral, such as golfing programs.
There were also videos the were included to make the participants feel "positive" but were not funny, such as some nature videos.
The results from the video viewing experience showed that laughing increased resistance to pain, whereas just having the good feeling did not.
Testing endorphin levels themselves in the body is not possible.
They are not testable in a blood sample, so Dr Dunbar's experiments utilized a measure of pain resistance as an indirect indicator.
Professor Dunbar then assessed their pain tolerance by measuring how long they could stand a frozen wine cooler sleeve on their arm, and how much time they could stand with their backs up against a wall with knees bent.
So the conclusion was that only genuine laughter does the trick.
A polite chuckle is not going to raise endorphin levels.
The researchers said: 'Laughing is physically very exhausting, and anything that taxes the body physically triggers endorphins as a natural response as part of the pain control mechanism.
' Previous studies have looked at laughter and showed beneficial cardiovascular effects along with boosting circulation just as much as exercise or cholesterol reducing drugs.
It has also been shown to assist with weight loss if one laughs enough during any given day.
In order to laugh, 15 facial muscles are involved.
So it keeps them supple and allowing the skin to glow.
It has also been shown previously that the anticipation of a deep laugh appears to boost the immune system, with effects from it lasting upwards of 24 hours.
Essentially this means if you are having pain make sure to watch some comedies daily.
All you have to do is watch the movie Patch Adams to see laughter working its magic on patients.
A new study released by an Oxford psychologist shows that laughter is also great medicine for pain management.
The author, psychologist Robin Dunbar, explained that the muscles involved in the physical act of laughing trigger an in increase in endorphin release from the brain.
Dr.
Dunbar's team conducted six studies actually, five in the laboratory, and one as a field study at comedy performances.
Multiple studies involved resistance pain.
One of the conclusions was that laughter triggers endorphin release, and not the other way around.
In the experiments, participants in the lab watched various videos.
Some were funny, such as the comedies "Friends" and "South Park", while others were neutral, such as golfing programs.
There were also videos the were included to make the participants feel "positive" but were not funny, such as some nature videos.
The results from the video viewing experience showed that laughing increased resistance to pain, whereas just having the good feeling did not.
Testing endorphin levels themselves in the body is not possible.
They are not testable in a blood sample, so Dr Dunbar's experiments utilized a measure of pain resistance as an indirect indicator.
Professor Dunbar then assessed their pain tolerance by measuring how long they could stand a frozen wine cooler sleeve on their arm, and how much time they could stand with their backs up against a wall with knees bent.
So the conclusion was that only genuine laughter does the trick.
A polite chuckle is not going to raise endorphin levels.
The researchers said: 'Laughing is physically very exhausting, and anything that taxes the body physically triggers endorphins as a natural response as part of the pain control mechanism.
' Previous studies have looked at laughter and showed beneficial cardiovascular effects along with boosting circulation just as much as exercise or cholesterol reducing drugs.
It has also been shown to assist with weight loss if one laughs enough during any given day.
In order to laugh, 15 facial muscles are involved.
So it keeps them supple and allowing the skin to glow.
It has also been shown previously that the anticipation of a deep laugh appears to boost the immune system, with effects from it lasting upwards of 24 hours.
Essentially this means if you are having pain make sure to watch some comedies daily.
Source...